Today In The MHSAA: 10/13/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 13, 2021
1. VOLLEYBALL Kingsley swept Suttons Bay to clinch a share of a third-straight Northwest Conference championship – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 6 Centreville swept Cassopolis to clinch the Southwest 10 Conference title – Sturgis Journal
3. BOYS SOCCER Despite playing a player down, Grosse Pointe South scored late to defeat Utica 2-1 and clinch the Macomb Area Conference White title – Macomb Daily
4. VOLLEYBALL Division 3 No. 2 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian finished a perfect run through the Lakes 8 Activities Conference with a four-set win over Orchard View – MuskegonSports.com
5. BOYS SOCCER By way of Royal Oak’s 1-0 win over Division 1 No. 12 Rochester, Birmingham Groves locked up the Oakland Activities Association White championship – Oakland Press
6. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 No. 8 Northville swept No. 7 Novi to move into first place alone in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West – Observer & Eccentric
7. VOLLEYBALL Muskegon Mona Shores opened Ottawa-Kent Conference Green Tournament play with a sweep of Holland – MuskegonSports.com
8. CROSS COUNTRY Hart swept the final West Michigan Conference jamborees; Hart’s girls are No. 1 in LPD3, and the boys are ranked No. 3 – Ludington Daily News
9. VOLLEYBALL Zeeland West, Zeeland East and Holland Christian also opened O-K tournament play with wins – Holland Sentinel
10. BOYS SOCCER McBain Northern Michigan Christian finished the regular season 16-1-1 with a 2-1 win over Traverse City Christian – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Also of note …
MONTROSE Many in the Flint area and the MHSAA included are mourning the death of Tom Skinner, a longtime broadcaster who as recently as this fall served as a voice of NFHS Network broadcasts after previously building one of the top Student Broadcast Programs in the country at Montrose – Flint Journal
Holland West Ottawa Athletics Complex Recognized with National Award
December 12, 2023
Holland West Ottawa Public Schools’ new athletics complex, with architectural firm GMB, has been recognized as the top multi-field facility nationally by the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA), the national organization for builders and suppliers of materials for athletic facilities.
West Ottawa’s new stadium consists of two turf playing fields. The west field was designed deliberately without a surrounding track to bring the stands and field closer together with a central tunnel beneath the grandstands for the home team to enter onto the field. The same synthetic turf, light posts, and state-of-the-art audio/video systems are utilized on both fields for an equitable experience for all users.
Multiple ground-level entry points with access to the fields, barrier-free locker rooms and multiple seating options with elevator access also create accessibility for spectators, players, coaches, and support staff.
“This facility allows our students the opportunity to play in one of the premier complexes in the state of Michigan,” said Jeff Malloch, assistant superintendent of business services at West Ottawa Public Schools. “We have seen continued interest in lacrosse, football, and soccer, and this complex will be utilized by our community youth from elementary age to high school student-athletes.”
Adding elevated fan experiences, such as a concourse level between the upper and lower sections of the home stands, bigger bleachers, and updated concession stands and restrooms establish a venue for multiple sports and attract the entire community to utilize the facility.
“This is a one-of-a-kind facility for West Michigan, and it’s been wonderful to see student-athletes from across the state enjoy the complex’s unique amenities,” said Nate Bosch, a landscape architect with GMB. “The collaboration needed to make this project come to life was an inspiring process to be a part of, and we are so pleased to celebrate this accomplishment with West Ottawa.”
This is the first time a GMB project has been awarded a multi-field facility of the year honor by the ASBA. GMB also has received four Project of the Year honors in the outdoor tennis category and 20 distinguished awards from ASBA for other athletic facility projects over the past 12 years.
(Photos by M-Buck Studio.)